90 FANCY PIGEONS. 



very rich in quality. It is found in black, red, yellow, blue 

 and silver, with dark bars and without bars, and in oi 

 colours. 



The Saxon, or Bohemian Swallow Pigeon, according t< 

 Priitz, answers to the foregoing description, except that it i 

 marked on the head with only a frontal spot above the beak 

 of the size of a pea; while another variety, known as th 

 Silesian, has not even this mark, but is white-headed. Beside 

 shell- crested and plain-headed ones, a variety exists double 

 crested, or with a rose over the beak, like a Trumpeter o 

 Priest. 



The Niirnberg Swallow in its purity has been known 

 according to Neumeister, from ancient times. In marking 

 it is like the illustration, but the quality of its colours ii 

 exceedingly rich, owing to a certain fat or oil in its system 

 which it has in common with certain Eastern pigeons. Iti 

 plumage fits loosely, but, at the same time, is thick, soft 

 and fatty to the touch. The colours are fiery and rich, th< 

 black deeper and more velvety than with all other (German 

 species of pigeon; the white, on the other hand, looks as i 

 oiled, for which reason this pigeon is called in Number^ 

 " the Greasy Fairy." All the feathers under the wings, abou 

 the thighs, and round the vent, instead of shedding thei] 

 fibres in the usual way, remain merely cases filled witl 

 yellow fat or wax, or, at most, only shed a small portioi 

 of their extremities. I have found the same peculiarity ii 

 other pigeons, and at one time considered it a disease, insteac 

 of which I now believe it is this fat or grease in the systen 

 which gives the extraordinary metallic lustre to the fe^ 

 varieties of domestic pigeons that possess it. The Blacl 

 Niirnberg Swallow has most of these grease quills, and, fro re 

 its beautiful green lustre, is called the " Yelvet Fairy." Nexl 

 it comes the Red, while the Yellow and Blue have not so mud 

 of this peculiar feathering. 



Swallows are said to be found in the following varieties : 



